Assistant to the Director (Department of Transportation) (Exempt)

Assistant To The Director

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

The Department of Transportation (OakDOT) provides safe, equitable and reliable transportation services to the City of Oakland. We design, construct and maintain transportation networks that connects Oakland's communities and supports mobility for all users. This position serves as a core leading member of the City's Safe Oakland Streets (SOS) an interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to preventing serious and fatal traffic collisions and eliminating crash inequities through data-driven and community-centered strategies. The Assistant to the Director will develop strategies and provide high-level advice to the Director of the Department of Transportation on a broad array of transportation issues to advance the goals of OakDOT. As a member of OakDOT's Executive Management Team, this role collaborates with OakDOT team members to shape progressive transportation policies, promote transportation equity, and strengthen OakDOT's role as a national leader in transportation equity and mobility. The position also coordinates the government and regulatory affairs responsibilities of the department at the local, county, regional, state, and federal levels.

We are looking for someone who is :

• A Thought Partner. You will be a strategic thought partner and confidant to the Director. You will be expected to understand technical, financial, political, and cultural aspects of the department to provide key decision-making support.
• A Designated Proxy. When the Director is internally focused, you will represent them in meetings and collaborate with the leadership team to make decisions on their behalf. This includes engagement with key regional partners such as AC Transit, Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and CalCity Transportation (CACTI).
• An Executor. You will lead cross-functional special projects of strategic importance to the department.
• A Racial Equity Team (RET) Amplifier. The department has made a solid commitment to continuously view its issues and solutions through a race and equity lens. Understanding that this issue is complex and can be dynamic, you will oversee the department's RET staff and serve as the conscience of the leadership team by holding it accountable to its values.
• A Legislative Leader. You will remain up to date on local, state, and federal legislative matters with the potential to affect the department.

Knowledgeable of City Council Relations. The department has implemented a process to provide support to City Council members and their staff, ensuring workloads remain reasonable and sustainable. You will monitor this effort and make any necessary adjustments to engage, while not sacrificing project delivery.

What you will typically be responsible for :

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Competencies Required :